[ There it is again. That horrible feeling of his gaze flaying her to bone and marrow, burrowing deep into muscle and tissue and every ugly, grisly part of her insides. Usually, she can't bring herself to hold it for more than a few seconds but this time she manages to hold her ground. This time, she manages to look right at him.
How is she supposed to say it? Telling people pretty lies they want to hear is her forte but what Oberon wants is the truth. And isn't that hilarious? He's just as much of a liar as she is - worse, even - and now he's asking her to say something real. He must know it's impossible. Maybe that's exactly why he's saying it.
But she can't bring herself not to try.
So she swallows. Wets her lips nervously, like she's about to deliver a line from a script she hasn't quite memorized yet. But there's no pretense in her gaze, nothing in the way of guile or flattery and the words she finally manages to find - ]
[ He's silent. His expression unchanging as usual. It's impossible to tell what he thinks of her answer as his eyes stare her down, flaying her down and stripping her of every single lie she's covered herself with until he sees the truth that she hides deep within.
...still nothing, no change. Is he disappointed? Upset? Relieved? It's impossible to tell.
But then finally... finally... he lets out a sigh. ]
[ In exasperation, he finally breaks eye contact and practically groans as if in defeat. ]
It could use work. Average score at best, but fine. I'll take it.
[ Black insects start to appear from the ground and swarm his body... a grim sight, the complete opposite of what you would expect from the Faerie King, surrounded by butterflies and moths and various other, prettier insects. With that said, as grotesque as it might be, it'll be familiar to Ai. ]
[ ...and as the insects finish swarming him completely like they would a corpse, they begin to retreat, skittering off onto the ground and disappearing, leaving exactly what Ai wanted. ]
[ Though her skin crawls, Ai doesn't let herself look away. Maybe it's a trick, a lie to placate her and keep her quiet. It's not until the cloud of bugs parts and she sees him properly, scowling and miserable that something comes unfurled in her chest.
Relief. Gratitude. And whatever you call the feeling that settles into your lungs when you step inside and say I'm home.
When she beams at him in return, her smile isn't a lie either. ]
[ What the absolute hell is wrong with... no, not with her. What the hell is wrong with him.
He's pissed, he's definitely upset... but that damn smile. Objectively it looks the same as any other smile, but...
...his heart rises.
...this is exactly why he tried to do what he did. ]
Oh, shut it. What kind of person actually prefers this? I know you already said that you idols aren't sane, but you're on another damn level, you know that?
[ His usual barbs. There really isn't anything different about his words now compared to any other time he's casually tossed an insult her way, but... ]
[ It's not even a little funny but she almost wants to laugh. She manages to bite it back - he definitely wouldn't be happy to hear it when he's in a mood like his - but it makes her smile wobble so obviously all the same. ]
You were the one who wanted me to tell you the truth. I just think, if I'm gonna do that, shouldn't we both do the same? Ah, don't get me wrong, I know you're definitely still lying now... but at least this way, fair's still fair, right?
[ She gives him a little grin, evidently pleased with her little victory and finally breezes past him to make for the apartment - but then she pauses and glances back, her expression still bright. ]
Come on. Let's go home. I haven't eaten anything since yesterday and I'm starving.
[ Fair's still fair, huh? Well, she's not wrong about that... though Oberon sure doesn't feel that way. There's nothing fair about the way he makes him feel, he thinks.
Though, then again, that probably just evens it out when it comes to dealing with him. ]
Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say, my pain-in-the-ass Master.
[ So he follows, follows his Master who still thinks it was mere coincidence that brought them together. He has no clue what to do now that she's rejected their easy-way-out to their feelings, but...
...well, it's not like he's unused to having to improvise on the fly. ]
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no subject
How is she supposed to say it? Telling people pretty lies they want to hear is her forte but what Oberon wants is the truth. And isn't that hilarious? He's just as much of a liar as she is - worse, even - and now he's asking her to say something real. He must know it's impossible. Maybe that's exactly why he's saying it.
But she can't bring herself not to try.
So she swallows. Wets her lips nervously, like she's about to deliver a line from a script she hasn't quite memorized yet. But there's no pretense in her gaze, nothing in the way of guile or flattery and the words she finally manages to find - ]
I want you the way you always are.
[ - aren't in any way a lie. ]
1/3
...still nothing, no change. Is he disappointed? Upset? Relieved? It's impossible to tell.
But then finally... finally... he lets out a sigh. ]
2/3
[ In exasperation, he finally breaks eye contact and practically groans as if in defeat. ]
It could use work. Average score at best, but fine. I'll take it.
[ Black insects start to appear from the ground and swarm his body... a grim sight, the complete opposite of what you would expect from the Faerie King, surrounded by butterflies and moths and various other, prettier insects. With that said, as grotesque as it might be, it'll be familiar to Ai. ]
3/3
...there? Happy now?
[ ...oh he looks like he's in a bad mood, huh? ]
no subject
Relief. Gratitude. And whatever you call the feeling that settles into your lungs when you step inside and say I'm home.
When she beams at him in return, her smile isn't a lie either. ]
Mmhm. Black hair suits you best, you know.
no subject
He's pissed, he's definitely upset... but that damn smile. Objectively it looks the same as any other smile, but...
...his heart rises.
...this is exactly why he tried to do what he did. ]
Oh, shut it. What kind of person actually prefers this? I know you already said that you idols aren't sane, but you're on another damn level, you know that?
[ His usual barbs. There really isn't anything different about his words now compared to any other time he's casually tossed an insult her way, but... ]
...don't complain to me later.
no subject
You were the one who wanted me to tell you the truth. I just think, if I'm gonna do that, shouldn't we both do the same? Ah, don't get me wrong, I know you're definitely still lying now... but at least this way, fair's still fair, right?
[ She gives him a little grin, evidently pleased with her little victory and finally breezes past him to make for the apartment - but then she pauses and glances back, her expression still bright. ]
Come on. Let's go home. I haven't eaten anything since yesterday and I'm starving.
no subject
Though, then again, that probably just evens it out when it comes to dealing with him. ]
Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say, my pain-in-the-ass Master.
[ So he follows, follows his Master who still thinks it was mere coincidence that brought them together. He has no clue what to do now that she's rejected their easy-way-out to their feelings, but...
...well, it's not like he's unused to having to improvise on the fly. ]